Plainview is no stranger to the national spotlight. However, in a recent article published by the Washington Times, perceptions of the West Texas city may have been skewed when the national publication featured Plainview in a spotlight focusing on farm migrant housing.

"A single bed takes up almost the entire room. A hanging blanket acts both as a wall between the room and a small kitchen area and a barrier to the stench of sewage wafting through a bathroom window. Bottles of bug spray are littered around the room - a necessary weapon, the family says, against a cockroach infestation," said Jeremy Schwartz, a reporter for the Austin American Statesman, describing the living conditions of a particular Plainview hotel.

The quote was from Schwartz's recent article, "Oversight often absent for facilities for migrant laborers," which was picked up by the Washington Times last week. The article attempts to shine a spotlight on sub-standard living conditions for Texas agricultural laborers and calls out a deficiency in government inspections.

Schwartz's four-month investigation also features interviews with families and politicians from across Texas, including the cities of O'Donnell and Plainview.

Though the article does seem to have some sincerity in trying to tackle a real problem in migrant living conditions, their view of Plainview was a little short-sighted as they interviewed a family living at the Airport Motel and Apartments, located on the outskirts of Plainview on Business Interstate 27.

Schwartz interviews a family living at the Airport Motel. The husband, who chose his name not be published, his wife and two small children arrived at the Airport Motel last fall after the husband lost his job in the oil patch.

"The man, who said he fears state child protection workers will remove his children if they learn about the state of the rooms inside, opened his door on the condition that his name not be published," wrote Schwartz. "A small window air-conditioning unit groans against the September afternoon heat. The family sleeps with the front door open because it gets too hot at night. Rent is $480 a month."

The man told Schwartz he and his family had no other choice but to live at the motel.

However, there may have been another choice just a few miles north of the Airport Motel, an option that Schwartz failed to note in the article.

"Our goal at the Plainview Housing Authority is to provide a safe and clean environment for families," said Authority board president Brandon Brownlee.

The board, made up of volunteers, oversees the operations of Plainview's Date Street Housing and the Courtyard Apartments.

Brownlee said those two facilities are designed to cater to low-income and migrant workers.

In fact, the Date Street Housing complex is considered a Texas Migrant Labor Facility and is required to hold a certain number of apartments open for migrant workers. Currently, there are 15 empty apartments awaiting migrant tenants.

Brownlee said the entire complex is at about 80 percent occupancy, and in his 21 years associated with the Date Street Housing facility, he has never seen the complex at full capacity.

Leases at the complex are on a month to month basis, but migrants can lease weekly. Rent is about $275-$450 and includes security, paid utilities and cable, a laundromat, among other amenities. Migrant laborers can even receive an apartment already furnished.

Brownlee said he is proud of the staff and board of the Plainview Housing Authority who go above and beyond to ensure residents live in a safe and clean environment. This includes constant pest control and firm rules and inspections.

Plainview's Housing Authority does not receive any money from the city, state or federal governments, but relies only on rent money from the residents.

For several years, the Housing Authority has operated with financial stability and has no long-term debt. The board even has future plans to build an activity center and new playground at the Date Street facility.

"All because it's a migrant facility, doesn't mean it has to be sub-standard," said Brownlee.

Over the past years, agriculture advances chemically and mechanically have cut the need of migrant labor in the area.

Though there is no debate that some facilities in Texas do need major improvement, a shining example on how this type of facility should be run was overlooked in Plainview.

In terms of condition of the Airport Motel, owner James Odem had no comment on the article, but commended the motel's management. Odem felt the man interviewed may have been associated with a string of evictions, possibly harboring anger toward the motel.